Each year, more than 1,600 New Yorkers receive kidneys, livers, lungs, and hearts that have been donated for transplantation. However, nearly 9,500 New Yorkers are still on the waiting lists for a life-saving organ to become available. Unfortunately, an average of 450 do not receive the call in time and die before a transplant is available.

One person who donates organs (hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine) can save up to eight lives, while tissue donors (corneas, bone, skin, heart valves, tendons, veins, etc.) can improve seventy-five or more lives by restoring eyesight, helping fight infections in burn patients and prevent the loss of mobility and disability.

By enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry, you are giving legal consent for the recovery of your organs, tissues and eyes for the purposes of transplantation and research at the time of your death.

Recent News

Board of Directors unanimously approves nomination

Albany, NY —Donate Life New York State (NYS), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation statewide, welcomes Michael Heinley, Partner, Deputy New York Health Group, of Finn Partners to the Board of Directors.

"We are pleased to have Michael join our Board and look forward to his contributions to Donate Life NYS' mission," said Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life New York State (NYS). "Michael is a leader in healthcare communications and understands the powerful impact public relations and effective messaging can have on raising awareness of the need to increase organ and tissue donations in New York. His expertise will be invaluable in our efforts to ensure a transplant for every New Yorker in need."

Heinley is a recognized healthcare industry veteran with 25 years of experience working in corporate communication roles for many of the world's most respected and trusted innovator companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck and WebMD.

Host a Facebook Fundraiser:
Both individuals and organizations can host a Facebook Fundraiser on behalf of Donate Life New York State. To create a Facebook Fundraiserfor Donate Life New York State on Giving Tuesday:

Click Fundraisers in the left menu of your News Feed or in the menu of your mobile app.

Click Raise Money.

Select Nonprofit.

If your organization is hosting the fundraiser, select your organizational name in the "Who is organizing the fundraiser?" dropdown menu. (This step can only be completed by admins of your organization's Facebook page).

Search for Donate Life New York State, choose a cover photo and fill in the fundraiser details.

Click Create.

Contribute by check or money order:Mail your check or money order made payable to Donate Life New York State to:Donate Life New York State185 Jordan RoadTroy, NY 12180Remember to ask your family, friends, employers, and co-workers to help on #GivingTuesday, so we can meet our goal of $10,000 in honor of the nearly 10,000 New Yorkers in need of a lifesaving organ transplant.

Financial contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals support the mission of Donate Life New York State: to increase organ, eye, and tissue donation in order to ensure a transplant for every New Yorker.

New York State is facing a health care crisis: the need for transplantable organs far exceeds the availability. While a single donor can help save the lives of up to 8 people, potential donors are rare. It is crucial that all of the participants in the process, legal, clinical, administrative and governmental are knowledgeable about the law and the process surrounding organ and tissue donation.

Presented by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Health Law Section in partnership with the New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD), and co-sponsored by the Health Law Committee and Bioethical Issues Committee of the New York City Bar, this program will discuss many of the legal, regulatory and ethical issues in donation and transplant, including:

Overview of the status and challenges surrounding organ and tissue donation in New York

Overview of federal and state laws surrounding organ and tissue donation

Panel discussion of hospital policies and procedures and the critical role of hospital counsel

Brain death and brain death guidelines and their involvement with organ donation

Donate Life New York State/New York Alliance for Donation is happy to share news of Donate Life Month events. We'll post them here, in the order in which they occur. To add your event, email Marcy Stryker at mstryker@alliancefordonation.org.